Japanese Transports

ZATSUYOSEN!

(Sister HIROTA MARU, prewar)

IJN YOSHIDA MARU:
Tabular Record of Movement

© 2014-2016 Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall
Revision 1

E 1940:
Hakodate. Laid down by Hakodate Dock K.K. shipyard for Nippon Yusen K.K. (NYK) as a 2,926-tons cargo ship.
9 May 1941:
Launched and named YOSHIDA MARU.
16 August 1941:
Scheduled to be requisitioned by the IJN under secret instruction No. 873.
30 August 1941:
Completed and registered in Tokyo.
12 September 1941:
Yokohama. Starts conversion to military duty at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries K.K. shipyard. Requisitioned that same day by the IJN.
20 September 1941:
Registered in the IJN as an auxiliary gunboat attached to the Yokosuka Naval District under instruction No. 1093. Specified to lay mines under instruction No. 1094. Reserve LtCdr Tsuchitori Ei is appointed CO.
22 September 1941:
LtCdr Tsuchitori embarks.
1 October 1941:
Assigned to Vice Admiral Hosogaya Boshiro’s (36) Fifth Fleet, in Rear Admiral (later Vice Admiral Abe Kasuke’s (39) 7th Base Force, 10th Gunboat Division also consisting of MAGANE MARU under instruction No. 1166.
15 October 1941:
The conversion is completed.
16 October 1941:
Departs Yokohama and arrives at Yokosuka later that day.
17 October 1941:
Loads canteen goods.
19 October 1941:
Loads firearms.
20 October 1941:
Loads coal and canteen goods.
21 October 1941:
Loads mines.
23 October 1941:
Loads canteen goods.
24 October 1941:
Departs Yokosuka on trials and arrives at Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture later in the day.
26 October 1941:
Departs Tateyama and arrives at Yokosuka later that day.
27 October ~ 3 November 1941:
Loads buoys.
4 November 1941:
Departs Yokosuka.
7 November 1941:
Arrives at Futami Harbor, Chichi-Jima, Ogasawara Gunto (Bonins).
E 8 ~ 23 November 1941:
Sets up buoys.
24 November 1941:
Departs Chichi-Jima on depth-charge (DC) trials and arrives at Haha-Jima, Ogasawara Gunto later that same day.
25 November 1941:
Departs Haha-Jima and arrives at Futami Harbor, Chichi-Jima, later that day.
27 November 1941:
Departs Futami Harbor on minelaying trials and arrives back there later in the day.
2 December 1941:
Departs Futami Harbor on training duties.
3 December 1941:
Arrives back at Futami Harbor.
4 December 1941:
Comes alongside and loads fresh food from auxiliary storeship CHOKO MARU.
5 December 1941:
Comes alongside and loads charcoal and boiler water from auxiliary transport HOKUSHO MARU.
6 December 1941:
Embarks 257 troops and unloads an automobile using IJA transport SEKKO MARU’s derrick.
7 December 1941:
Assigned to 1st Patrol Force. Departs Chichi-Jima.
10 December 1941:
Arrives at Marcus Island (Minami Torishima). Disembarks troops and departs there later in the day.
13 December 1941:
Arrives at Futami Harbor.
19 December 1941:
Comes alongside and supplies fresh water to auxiliary minesweeper MISAGO MARU No. 11.
21 December 1941:
Comes alongside and loads fresh food from civilian cargo ship (C-AK) NANSHIN MARU.
24 December 1941:
Comes alongside and loads charcoal and boiler water from IJN requisitioned cargo ship (ex-whale factory ship) (B-AK) NISSHIN MARU No. 2.
25 December 1941:
Separates from NISSHIN MARU No. 2.
27 December 1941:
Comes alongside and loads charcoal and boiler water from auxiliary transport HOKUSHO MARU.
7 January 1942:
Departs Chichi-Jima on patrol duties and arrives back there later in the day.
8 January 1942:
Departs Chichi-Jima on patrol duties.
15 January 1942:
Arrives back at Chichi-Jima.
20 January 1942:
Comes alongside and loads fresh food from auxiliary storeship CHOKO MARU.
24 January 1942:
Comes alongside and loads charcoal and boiler water from auxiliary collier/oiler NISSAN MARU.
25 January 1942:
Separates from NISSAN MARU.
26 January 1942:
Comes alongside and loads fresh food from auxiliary storeship TAKUNAN MARU.
30 January 1942:
Departs Chichi-Jima on patrol duties and arrives back at Futami Harbor later that day.
5 February 1942:
Departs Chichi-Jima on patrol duties and arrives back at Futami Harbor later that same day.
9 February 1942:
Auxiliary minesweeper TOSHI MARU No. 5 comes alongside and loads boiler water.
12 February 1942:
Departs Chichi-Jima on patrol duties and arrives back at Futami Harbor later in the day.
13 February 1942:
Comes alongside and loads fresh food from IJN requisitioned storeship (B-AF) EBON MARU. Later that day, comes alongside and loads charcoal from auxiliary transport TOYO MARU No. 2.
20 February 1942:
Comes alongside and loads canteen goods from auxiliary transport CHOKO MARU. Later that day, auxiliary netlayer KOGI MARU and auxiliary minesweeper TOSHI MARU No. 5 come alongside and load boiler water.
24 February 1942:
Comes alongside and loads fresh food from lighter KAIEI MARU.
12 March 1942:
At 1630 departs Chichi-Jima and arrives at Takinoura, Chichi-Jima later that day.
13 March 1942:
At 0530 berths. Later departs Takinoura and arrives at Futami Harbor later that same day. Comes alongside and loads charcoal and boiler water from auxiliary collier/oiler NISSAN MARU.
20 March 1942:
Comes alongside and loads fresh food from lighter KAIEI MARU.
21 March 1942:
Comes alongside and loads fresh food from lighter KAIEI MARU.
26 March 1942:
At 0600 departs Chichi-Jima.
29 March 1942:
Arrives at Marcus. Disembarks passengers and unloads consignment goods. Departs later that day on patrol duties.
3 April 1942:
Arrives at Futami Harbor. Comes alongside and loads boiler water and fresh food from auxiliary transport CHOKO MARU.
4 April 1942:
Loads coal.
9 April 1942:
At 0530 departs Chichijima.
10 April 1942:
Released from the 10th Gunboat Division by instruction No. 652. Assigned that same day to 5th Fleet, 7th Base Force.
11 April 1942:
At 1700 arrives at Yokosuka.
14 April 1942:
At 1600 departs Yokosuka.
17 April 1942:
At 0200 arrives at Chichi-Jima.
18 April 1942:
At 0500 departs Chichi-Jima.
22 April 1942:
At 1230 arrives back at Chichi-Jima.
26 April 1942:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
27 April 1942:
Arrives at Iwo Jima, Ogasawara Gunto. Departs there later that day.
28 April 1942:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
10 May 1942:
At 0600 departs Chichi-Jima.
12 May 1942:
At 1100 arrives at Yokosuka. Departs later.
15 May 1942:
Attached to Yokosuka Naval District, Yokosuka Guard Force, assigned to Ise Wan (Bay) Guard Detachment under Navy’s secret instructions No. 39 and No. 91.
17 May 1942:
Scheduled to depart Uraga toward Ise Wan around May 20th under telegram No. 43.
19 May 1942:
Scheduled to depart at 1030 the following day and to escort IJA transport TAIMEI MARU under telegram No. 218.
20 May 1942:
Tactically assigned to Ise Wan Guard Detachment under instruction No. 34. Departs Uraga to meet up and escort a westbound convoy consisting only of IJA transport TAIMEI MARU to Ise Wan.
21 May 1942:
Arrives at Toba, Mie Prefecture.
24 May 1942:
Departs Toba.
25 May 1942:
Arrives back at Toba.
E 26 May 1942:
Departs Toba.
27 May 1942:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
28 May 1942:
Departs Yokosuka.
31 May 1942:
Arrives at Nagoya.
10 June 1942:
Departs Nagoya and arrives at Toba later in the day.
?? June 1942:
Departs Toba.
14 June 1942:
Arrives back at Toba. Departs later.
15 June 1942:
Assigned to Ise Wan Guard Force under Yokosuka Naval District secret instruction No. 99 and instruction No. 42.
19 June 1942:
Departs Yokosuka escorting a westbound convoy consisting of IJA transports TAIMEI, OMI, MISHIMA and RYUA MARUs and one unidentified merchant ship.
22 June 1942:
Departs Toba.
25 June 1942:
Arrives back at Toba.
26 June 1942:
Departs Toba.
1 July 1942:
Arrives back at Toba.
5 July 1942:
Graduated to Ise Wan District troops Guard Force.
13 July 1942:
Departs Toba.
17 July 1942:
Arrives back at Toba.
21 July 1942:
Departs Toba.
22 July 1942:
Arrives back at Toba.
29 July 1942:
Departs Toba.
30 July 1942:
Arrives back at Toba.
4 August 1942:
Departs Toba.
6 August 1942:
Arrives back at Toba.
10 August 1942:
Departs Toba and arrives back there later that same day.
12 August 1942:
Departs Toba.
14 August 1942:
Arrives back at Toba.
7 September 1942:
Engages for the first time in gunfire drill.
16 September 1942:
Departs Toba.
17 September 1942:
Arrives back at Toba.
21 September 1942:
Departs Toba.
22 September 1942:
Arrives back at Toba.
25 September 1942:
Assigned to Ise Wan district Guard Force under Yokosuka Naval District secret instruction No. 126.
1 October 1942:
Departs Toba.
3 October 1942:
Arrives back at Toba.
7 October 1942:
Departs Toba.
15 October 1942:
Arrives back at Toba.
20 October 1942:
Departs Toba.
28 October 1942:
Arrives back at Toba.
30 October 1942:
Departs Toba and arrives back there later in the day.
5 November 1942:
Departs Toba.
11 November 1942:
Arrives back at Toba.
15 November 1942:
Departs Toba.
20 November 1942:
Arrives back at Toba.
23 November 1942:
Departs Toba.
24 November 1942:
Arrives back at Toba.
27 November 1942:
Departs Toba.
20 December 1942:
Off Daiozaki coast. Engages in search and rescue mission for IJA transport MITSUKI MARU. [1]
21 December 1942:
Arrives back at Toba.
?? December 1942:
Graduated to Ise Wan District troops Guard Force.
29 December 1942:
Departs Toba.
2 January 1943:
Assists stranded IJA shared transport (A/C-AK) FUKUJU MARU. Arrives at Toba later in the day.
6 January 1943:
Departs Toba. Three nautical miles SSE Of Oyama. At 0810, starts to escort German ‘V Schiffe’ WESERLAND (ex-ERMLAND). Ends escort in Irago Suido (Strait) and arrives back at Toba.
E 7 January 1943:
Departs Toba.
8 January 1943:
Resumes escort of WESERLAND north of Irago Suido. Ends escort near the buoy and arrives back at Toba later that same day.
?? January 1943:
Departs Toba.
19 January 1943:
Engages in ASW and drops five DCs.
23 January 1943:
Arrives back at Toba.
27 January 1943:
Departs Toba and arrives back there later in the day.
9 February 1943:
Assigned to patrol 24 nautical miles ENE of Miyake-Jima, Izu Shoto (Islands) under Coastal Defence telegram No. 132. Departs Toba and engages in ASW sweep with minelayer SARUSHIMA and destroyer SAWAKAZE, and victims rescue of IJN requisitioned liner (B-AP) TATSUTA MARU. Later that day aborts rescue mission under Coastal Defence telegram No. 133. [2]
20 February 1943:
Sustains an engine breakdown 20 nautical miles SE of Oyama Atsumi Peninsula and goes dead in the water. At 1500, reports having being hit by a torpedo (not in US records – likely hit by a drifting mine) in 34-30N, 137-20E. Taken under tow on both sides later that day by auxiliary netlayer KASHI MARU and by auxiliary small minelayer TAKACHIHO MARU.
21 February 1943:
At 0645, destroyer YAMAGUMO comes to tow YOSHIDA MARU. At 0715, YAMAGUMO is about two nautical miles ESE of Oyama Atsumi Peninsula. At 1500, YAMAGUMO is replaced by a tugboat off Nagoya Port.
22 February 1943:
Arrives under tow at Nagoya. At 1645, enters Nagoya shipyard drydock.
28 September 1943:
Scheduled to be converted to new military duty under Navy’s secret instruction No. 4917.
1 October 1943:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 2038. Registered that same day in the Navy’s list as an auxiliary transport (Otsu) category attached to the Yokosuka Naval District with Yokosuka as home port under instruction No. 2041. Reserve LtCdr Tsuchitori Ei is confirmed as CO. [3]
1 November 1943:
Reserve LtCdr Tsuchitori is reassigned to the Yokosuka Naval District Office.
November 1943:
Captain Mikami Tasaburo is appointed supervisor.
6 November 1943:
Departs Nagoya.
7 November 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
15 November 1943:
Departs Yokosuka and arrives at Tokyo later in the day.
18 November 1943:
Departs Tokyo and arrives at Yokosuka later that day.
20 November 1943:
Departs Yokosuka.
23 November 1943:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
24 November 1943:
Departs Chichi-Jima.
29 November 1943:
Arrives at Marcus.
15 December 1943:
Departs Marcus.
20 December 1943:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
22 December 1943:
Departs Chichi-Jima escorted by auxiliary minesweeper Wa-14.
25 December 1943:
Arrives at Yokosuka.
5 January 1944:
At 0700, departs Yokosuka in convoy No. 3105 also consisting of civilian passenger/cargo ship (C-APK) SHIBAZONO MARU escorted by auxiliary minesweeper TORISHIMA MARU and an unidentified escort.
8 January 1944:
Arrives at Chichi-Jima.
15 January 1944:
Departs Chichi-Jima in convoy bound for Marcus as the only merchant ship carrying 129 naval personnel, 116 civilian employees and loaded with 1,394-tons of ammunition, escorted by auxiliary netlayer KOGI MARU and subchaser CH-51.
18 January 1944:
About 140 nautical miles SW of Marcus. Cdr (later Rear Admiral) Reuben T. Whitaker’s (USNA ’34) USS FLASHER (SS-249) running submerged, sights on her periscope the convoy. Whitaker makes a surfaced approach and about 1800, fires a spread of four Mk XIV Type 3A torpedoes at the largest ship. Three hits are scored and at 1843, YOSHIDA MARU sinks at 23-46N, 151-30E with the loss of 76 passengers, eight crewmen and 15 gunners.
10 March 1944:
Removed from the Navy’s list under instruction No. 427.

Authors' Notes :
[1] MITSUKI MARU struck a Mk 12 mine laid by LtCdr (later Rear Admiral) Roy S. Benson’s (USNA ’29) USS TRIGGER (SS-237) that same day. A violent explosion rocked the transport and she sank rapidly with unknown casualties.
[2] TATSUTA MARU departed Yokosuka for Truk 8 Feb ‘43. She was torpedoed and sunk that same day by LtCdr (later Cdr) Thomas L. Wogan’s (USNA ’30) USS TARPON (SS-175) with the loss of 1,223 troops and passengers and 198 crewmen at 33-45N, 140-25E.
[3] There were two categories of Zatsuyosen. (Ko) category with an IJN Captain as supervisor aboard and (Otsu) category without.
Thanks go to Gengoro S. Toda of Japan. Thanks also go to Jeff Donahoo of Iowa for Officers’ info.

Gilbert Casse, Bob Hackett and Peter Cundall.

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